US: Sarah Palin draining political cash on salaries, travel and the Waldorf Astoria

Wanna-be king maker Sarah Palin can woo political contributors to the conservative cause and candidates, but the Donald Trump cheerleader is spending money on herself faster than she brings it in, according to figures from her Political Action Committee.

Palin's well-known appetite for luxury travel, pricey consultants and expensive hotels has depleted cash reserves in her PAC to historically low levels, according to a review of the figures by the Center for Public Integrity.

She had $380,000 in the kitty the end of 2015, down from $1m (£700,000) in 2014. During 2015, SarahPAC expenditures — $1.4 million (£980,000) — outpaced income, about $950,000 (£666,000), US federal records show. Conservative candidates didn't receive a dime of SarahPAC money during the second half of 2015.

Palin has spent $249,000 (£175,000) on political consultants, including $80,500 (£56,000) for longtime aide and PAC treasurer Timothy Crawford), and $18,000 (£13,000) on speech writing.

She blew through $48,000 (£34,000) on travel and lodging, including a hefty $4,700 (£3,300) hotel bill at the Hotel George in Washington DC where she attended a rally with Trump and Ted Cruz in late 2015. She also luxuriated at New York City's Waldorf Astoria for another $4,500 (£3,200).

Just over $22,000 (£15,0000 went to purchase Palin's own book Sweet Freedom: A Devotional and a "SarahPAC mama grizzly bear" toy given out to donors. Palin was criticised when she ran as GOP vice president with John McCain for spending thousands on a new hairdo and clothing.

The $457,00 (£320,000) SarahPAC reported raising the last six months of 2015 represents its smallest half-year haul since it began in early 2009.